YSS Committed To Improve Ties Through Volunteer Missions

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 8 (Bernama) -- The Students Volunteer Foundation (YSS) is committed to churning the country's youth into future ASEAN leaders and build ties between youths of ASEAN member countries through volunteer missions. Its corporate communications executive Nurul Fazirah Md Naser said, since the formation of YSS five years ago, the foundation has gone all out to expose Malaysian university students to the reality of development in ASEAN to increase their understanding of the importance of improving the livelihood of ASEAN communities as a whole. "Through their awareness on the importance of improving the ASEAN region and of their capacity as its youths, student volunteers, by themselves, organise volunteer projects in ASEAN countries and get involved in intellectual discussions through ASEAN conferences,” she told Bernama on Monday. YSS, a wholly-owned entity of the Ministry of Higher Education which has 645 student volunteers since its formation in 2012, has carried out 25 student volunteer missions in ASEAN countries. Nurul Fazirah said YSS also encouraged volunteers from other ASEAN countries to visit Malaysia and learn about its culture. "YSS always takes the opportunity to promote Malaysian volunteering activities through YSS internationalisation efforts worldwide. “Malaysia was also given the honour to be chosen for the first time to host the 15th International Association for Volunteer Effort (IAVE) Asia Pacific Regional Volunteer Conference in November, which is expected to attract 1,000 volunteers worldwide, as a platform to exchange ideas on ways to boost volunteering activities,” she said. In conjunction with ASEAN’s 50th anniversary, she said, YSS expressed its appreciation to numerous parties who had collaborated with them in organising missions which were in line with the National Blue Ocean Strategy and building the unity of ASEAN youths. "ASEAN’s anniversary marked the strong regional collaboration that has developed, as well as the maturity of ASEAN youths who are preparing to become future ASEAN leaders by 2025, for a prosperous ASEAN,” Nurul Fazirah added. -- BERNAMA